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Updated: Jun 7, 2026

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
Published on: June 7, 2017
Method for automated monitoring of hand hygiene adherence without radio-frequency identification
Philip M Polgreen1, Christopher S Hlady, Monica A Severson
1Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. philip‐polgreen@uiowa.edu
Abstract:
Many efforts to automatically measure hand hygiene activity depend on radio-frequency identification equipment or similar technology that can be expensive to install. We have developed a method for automatically tracking the use of hand hygiene dispensers before healthcare workers enter (or after they exit) patient rooms that is easily and quickly deployed without permanent hardware.
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